Functional morphology of the adrenal cortex in newborns. II. Morphological and biochemical analysis of lipid accumulation.

The adrenal cortex of 32 newborns and of 3 anencephalic monsters of 16 to 40 weeks' gestational age was examined. Functional activity of the adrenal cortex was followed by analysis of the zonal distribution of lipids and by measurement of the total cholesterol content. The cholesterol content ranged between 0.15 and 0.85 mg/100 g. Cholesterol accumulation was highest in the anencephalic monsters. The relative cholesterol content failed to show any correlation with gestational age. When compared with the biochemical determination of cholesterol content, morphological investigation of lipid accumulation proved to be superior and to be a suitable method for estimation of zonal maturity even in individual cases.